Natale di Roma: happy birthday to the Eternal city
The origins of the city of Rome are clearly divided between history and legend. According to legend, the city was founded by Rome’s first king, Romulus, after killing his twin brother Remus. History, however, tells us that Rome was born from the gradual unification of villages scattered across the various hills, such as the Palatine, Capitoline, an...
Gardaland celebrates 50 years with new attractions and green initiatives
Gardaland, the most famous amusement park in Italy, located in Peschiera del Garda in the province of Verona, is celebrating an important milestone this year: its 50th anniversary. The original idea for an amusement park on the shores of Lake Garda was conceived in the early 1970s by Livio Furini, a musician and entrepreneur from Verona who was ins...
Sonoma’s Italian History Is in Every Bite of Canevari’s Ravioli
Sonoma County was built on red wine and ravioli. As the chosen home of thousands of Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the simple food and wine of their homeland became the basis for a flourishing economy, and family names like Bacigalupi, Bastoni, Pedroncelli, Seghesio, Traverso and Martinelli have continued to power tha...
Parmigiano Reggiano Breaks Revenue Record in 2024
Parmigiano Reggiano PDO recorded a historic €3.2bn in consumer turnover in 2024, up 4.9% from €3.05bn in 2023, despite geopolitical uncertainty and rising concerns over global trade restrictions. Volume sales rose 9.2% year-on-year, driven by solid growth in both domestic and international markets. Sales in Italy increased by 5.2%, while exports su...
Magnifico! How downtown Fargo turned Italian for two weeks in 1971
The September 1971 local news in Fargo, North Dakota, had turned its attention to an Italian invasion downtown. A good one, of course (like the British one seven years earlier which brought the Beatles to our shores). This was a renaissance of art, music and food as members of an Italian trade delegation immersed themselves in Fargo to teach Americ...
Mamma: an Italian music classic
The song Mamma has a special place in Italian music history, both because of its universal theme, maternal love, and the many famous artists to whom it is associated. The song was composed in 1940 by Cesare Andrea Bixio, with lyrics by Bixio Cherubini, a known artistic duo. Born in Naples on October 11, 1896, Cesare Andrea was a prolific Italian co...
Nittolo's Little Italy Comes to Downtown Traverse City (MI)
Craving a pizza or a hearty bowl of pasta? You’re in luck: Nittolo’s Little Italy, from restaurateur Eric Nittolo, is slated to open downtown in the Warehouse District in this April, pending licensing and approvals. The new spot was built out in the space where Cut & Run used to be, next to The Tasting Room on the ground floor of the Breakwater bui...
Rome’s GRAB: A new way to experience the Eternal City by bicycle
Rome is creating a new 50-km long ring road for cyclists and walkers as part of an ambitious project known as the Grande Raccordo Anulare delle Biciclette, or GRAB. The new facilities for walkers and cyclists are in response to growing demand for sustainable mobility and outdoor spaces, offering a slow, immersive way to discover Rome. The cycling a...
To see Italian-inspired architecture, take a good look close to home
Did you know that an Italian inspired the design of the White House, Monticello and the Philadelphia Museum of Art? Andrea Palladio was born in Veneto in Padua in 1508. He began as an apprentice in sculpture which led to his admission into the stonemason’s guild. He moved to Vincenza and worked for a patron who supported the classical style of Anci...
Religious cities in Italy: a guide to the holy sites
Italy has for millennia been a central stage for the religious development and spirituality of the Christian West. From majestic papal basilicas to serene mountain sanctuaries, the country offers an extraordinary variety of experiences that promise a deep connection with the past, art and faith. Whether you are a devout pilgrim, a history buff or s...
C.I.A.O raising funds for new South Shore Italian American programs
C.I.A.O. – the Cultural Italian American Organization based on the South Shore (Boston, MA) - is moving ahead to gather the resources necessary to support its Italian Language and Cultural High school and Adult Education Programs. The Italian American Alliance has been heavily involved with this language program since its inception through the eff...
European tourism in the United States plunges, the only exception is the Italians
It’s a trend that could prove costly for the US: the decline in foreign tourism, a key contributor to the US economy since the end of COVID-related restrictions triggered a recovery in international travel. This trend affects Italy with significantly lower figures: last month, just over 80,000 Italians departed for the "States," a decrease of only...